Mamadou Doumbia is a guitarist from Côte d'Ivoire who is part, after independence, of the first generation of modern musicians, with Amédée Pierre and his "Ivoro Star" band, presumed first Ivorian musician and singer.

In 1962, Mamadou Doumbia created the band "Trio de l'entente" which will become "Orchestre de l'Entente" ("orchestra of the agreement") and recorded over sixteen 7-inches singles on Safi Deen label. From 1975, he recorded on Badmos label, here is two volumes.

Badmos, a name that rhymed with music in Ivory Coast. Badmos the almighty. Sam Mangwana was singing: "Badmos handsome man, very slim, you've turned my head". He was born Gbadamassi Raimi of Nigerian origin and for the purposes of its business, it shall be known as Badmos. H produced many artists such as Ernesto Djedje, Bailly Spinto, Jimmy Yacinthe, Wedji Ped, François Lougah, Salif Keita, and of course Mamadou Doumbia.

This second Afro National opus is as good as the the FIRST. Beautiful sound and perfect arrangements. A great saxophone, keyboard banging, guitar totally soukous and the unique voice of Patricia Koroma (pictured) on the dreaded "Jokenge" afrobeat tune. This record is pleasurable.

These documents were collected in 1952, by Gilbert Rouget, in the course of an ethnomusicological field-trip sponsored by the Institut Français d'Afrique Noire and the Musée de l'Homme. The record was released in 1972.

"Pastoral nomads roaming the savanna with their herds or sedentary peasants cleaning the forest, horsemen from the desert confines or boatmen manning their dugouts along Atlantic coast, fishermen living on the banks of the great water-ways or cliff-dwelling farmers, rice-eaters or millet-eaters, men that go naked or, on the contrary, muffled up to their ears, lanky people or stocky people, with elongated skulls or round, black skin or tawny, centralized kingdoms or small scattered groups, caste societies or egalitarian societies, Moslems or pagans, with patrilineal descanter, on the contrary matrilineal, "tone" languages or "stress" languages, such is the diversity of men and societies that people the vast expanses of West-Africa. It is reflected in the music which offers a remarkable variety of aspects. The present record shows two of these aspects, which can be considered as broadly representative of the sahelian savanna and the rain forest, two major geographical areas possessing a certain unity from the musical point of view".

Gougla Patou is an excellent guitarist who had a short career. He has collaborated with Poly-Rythmo orchestra and Adjaho Coffi on a sublime album already posted on Oro. He recorded only one LP and there is no doubt, Gougla was a "flame-fingered guitarist". I especially like "Bobadjé Towoni" title, sung in Yoruba, where guitar and gangan drum fit perfectly. I thank Vivien aka DJ Balafon for this contribution.

Vis-a-Vis band is composed by the finest ghanaian musicians: Isaac Yeboha, the lead-singer, bassist Slim Yaw, Kunh Fu Kwaku drummer and Sam Crooper guitarist who will be the subject of another post. (Vis-a-Vis with K.Frimpong can be found HERE).

The album today is a 1980 re-release on american label Makossa Records of the great album "Obi Agye Dofo Me" recorded in 1977 on the ghanaian label Brobisco Records. Only two tracks on side 2 have been replaced by unknown pieces "Mere Beba Me" and "Medofo Gyina Nkwanta". If anyone can tell what album these two titles belong. I think "Medofo..." has been sang by Alex Konadu. Anyway the record is in a perfect shape, enjoy the sound...